Dotson Traded to Division Rival for 5th-Round Pick

It's not often that we see a first-round pick traded after just two seasons, and it's even more unusual when that player is sent to a longtime division rival. Yet, this past week, the Washington Commanders did just that, trading 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles for a mere 5th-round pick.

Speculation around the Commanders' camp suggests that Dotson had been slipping down the depth chart due to ongoing struggles. Still, it seems odd that Washington would offload a young player with potential, especially to a division rival, as Dotson is only entering his third year in the NFL. While he has shown flashes of the first-round talent that made him a coveted prospect, he has yet to fully put it together at the professional level.

During his rookie season, Dotson appeared in just 12 games but demonstrated his big-play ability, hauling in seven touchdowns and averaging nearly 15 yards per reception. Unfortunately, despite seeing more playing time in his sophomore season, Dotson couldn’t avoid the dreaded "sophomore slump." His production dipped, recording only 49 catches on 83 targets for 513 yards and four touchdowns.

Now in Philadelphia, the hope is that Dotson can reignite the big-play potential he displayed at Penn State. He will assume the role of the third wideout behind All-Pro A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, rather than being the number two option as he was in Washington. While his NFL production has been underwhelming so far, the talent remains untapped. It's worth noting that this will be the first time Dotson will play with above-average quarterback play, courtesy of former All-Pro Jalen Hurts. There's an old saying that a change of scenery can make all the difference, and for both Dotson and Washington, they’ll be hoping that rings true.